ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Sahibzada Hamid Raza, was arrested by Islamabad police early Friday morning and later handed over to Faisalabad authorities. Following legal formalities, he was transferred to Faisalabad Central Jail.
According to official sources, Raza was wanted in several cases related to vandalism and violent protests targeting state institutions. He had earlier been convicted by an anti-terrorism court in connection with the May 9 riots but had reportedly been evading arrest since his sentencing.
Police confirmed that Raza was presented before a court, which ordered his transfer to Faisalabad Central Jail to serve his sentence.
In July this year, a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad had convicted Raza along with several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, over their alleged involvement in violent protests at the Civil Lines Police Station after the May 9, 2023, unrest.
The convicts were handed multiple sentences totaling up to 45 years in various related cases.
The May 9 violence erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court premises in a graft case. The protests quickly turned violent, leading to attacks on public and military installations, including Lahore’s Corps Commander House, also known as Jinnah House.
While several PTI leaders and workers were later granted bail, many still remain in custody. Former prime minister Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 on multiple charges, including corruption and terrorism, following his removal from office through a no-confidence motion in April 2022.
